TL;DR This guide compares 10 AWS migration tools, grouped by the workload each one actually moves.
Databases and data: AWS Database Migration Service and Airbyte for moving and continuously syncing database and SaaS data.Servers and applications: AWS Application Migration Service, CloudEndure and Corent SurPaaS for lift-and-shift and replatforming.Files and storage: AWS Transfer Family, CloudFuze, Cloudsfer and Carbonite Migrate for file, mailbox and object moves.Plan before you move: AWS Application Discovery Service maps dependencies first, which is where most migrations go wrong.AWS migration tools handle the move from on-premises or another cloud into AWS, covering databases, servers, files and full application workloads. No single tool does all of that well, so most migrations end up combining two or three. The ten options below are grouped by what they are genuinely good at, along with how to choose between them.
Amazon Web Services remains the most widely adopted cloud platform, and the tooling around getting into it has grown accordingly. This article introduces the ten AWS migration tools worth knowing, what each is built to move, and how to pick the combination that fits your migration.
What Are AWS Migration Tools? AWS migration tools are the services, software and middleware that move your organisation's IT infrastructure into the AWS Cloud. They automate the parts of a migration that are slow and error-prone by hand: transferring data, rehosting applications and bridging compatibility gaps between source and target. Sources can be on-premises environments, another cloud platform or legacy systems that were never designed to move.
10 Best AWS Migration Tools There are several AWS cloud migration tools that you can use to streamline your migration process. Some of them are listed below:
Comparison Table of Top AWS Migration Tools Tool Workload Type Best For Downtime Ongoing Sync Pricing Model AWS DMS Databases Relational and NoSQL moves into AWS Minimal Yes, via CDC Pay as you go Airbyte Databases and SaaS data Continuous sync from 700+ sources None for ongoing sync Yes Free OSS; capacity-based paid tiers AWS MGN Servers and applications Lift-and-shift rehosting Short cutover Replication until cutover Free for 90 days per server AWS Transfer Family Files SFTP, FTPS, FTP and AS2 into S3 or EFS None Ongoing transfers Per endpoint hour plus data CloudEndure Servers and applications Block-level replication with low RPO Near zero Continuous until cutover Included with AWS migration services Corent SurPaaS MaaS Applications Assessment and replatforming to SaaS Varies by workload No Subscription, custom CloudFuze Cloud files Cloud-to-cloud storage and mailbox moves None Delta migration supported Per user or per GB AWS Application Discovery Service Planning Dependency mapping before you move Not applicable Continuous discovery Free, storage charges apply Cloudsfer Cloud files Multi-user cloud storage migration to S3 None Scheduled sync Per GB, tiered Carbonite Migrate Servers and data Cross-platform moves with real-time replication Near zero Yes Per workload licence
1. AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) AWS DMS is a cloud-based service that helps you perform various types of database migration . This includes moving NoSQL databases, relational databases, data warehouses, data lakes, and more to the AWS Cloud. The tool also enables you to discover your data sources and convert their schemas before migration.
Key Features of AWS DMS Ease of Use: AWS DMS is easy to set up and use. You don’t have to install drivers, modify source data, or make application-level changes to complete migrations. Enhanced Developer Productivity: You can implement migrations into and out of the cloud, allowing you to use real data for deploying, testing, and staging systems on AWS.Pros Cons No drivers to install or application changes required Strains on very large volumes and long-running tasks Handles homogeneous and heterogeneous migrations Databases only, so SaaS sources need another tool Continuous replication keeps downtime minimal Schema conversion often needs manual work Supports test and staging environments on real data Targets inside AWS, limiting cross-cloud moves
2. Airbyte Airbyte is an open data movement platform and a practical complement to the native AWS ETL tools . Where AWS DMS handles database-to-database moves, Airbyte covers the SaaS applications, APIs and file sources those services do not reach, through 700+ pre-built connectors . Destinations include Amazon Redshift, S3, DynamoDB, Kinesis and AWS data lakes, plus non-AWS targets if your migration is not one-directional.
Key Features of Airbyte Multiple Deployment Options: Airbyte supports a variety of production environments with tools like PyAirbyte (open-source Python library), an intuitive UI, Terraform Provider, or APIs to build data pipelines. AI Assistant: Airbyte’s Connector Builder offers an AI assistant feature to speed up pipeline development. It reads the API documentation and automatically pre-fills the configuration fields, reducing setup time. GenAI Workflows: With Airbyte, you can load semi-structured, structured, and unstructured data directly into vector database destinations such as Milvus, Chroma, and Pinecone, simplifying your GenAI workflows.Airbyte has also announced the availability of the Self-Managed Enterprise edition , which supports multi-tenant data mesh and data fabric architectures. For more information, you can contact the experts at Airbyte.
Hybrid deployment with Airbyte Enterprise Flex
Migrations are exactly when data sovereignty questions surface, because regulated records are in motion and often crossing boundaries they never crossed before. Airbyte Enterprise Flex separates the control plane from the data plane so that never becomes a blocker. Airbyte runs orchestration, scheduling and monitoring, while the data plane runs inside your own AWS account, VPC or data centre.
Your records, credentials and encryption keys stay inside your boundary, and only pipeline configuration and job metadata reach Airbyte. Connections are outbound only, so no inbound firewall rules are needed, and you can bring your own KMS. Region pinning ties a data plane to a specific cloud, region or on-premises site, which matters when a migration has to satisfy residency rules in more than one jurisdiction.
Data planes deploy on Amazon EKS through Helm, or on a single VM with Docker using Airbox, and air-gapped networks are supported. Because you can run multiple workspaces across regions from one control plane, a phased migration can move region by region without standing up separate tooling each time. Flex includes SSO, RBAC, field-level hashing and encryption, external secrets management, PrivateLink, audit logging and a 99.9% control-plane SLA, with capacity-based pricing rather than per-row charges.
Pros Cons 700+ connectors covering SaaS and API sources AWS services miss Moves data, not servers or full application workloads Keeps syncing after cutover rather than stopping at migration Self-managed deployment needs Kubernetes or Docker skills Enterprise Flex keeps data and keys inside your own AWS account Flex pricing is custom and needs a sales conversation Works across clouds, so useful for multi-cloud migrations Less tightly coupled to AWS internals than native services Connector Builder for sources that do not exist yet Not a rehosting or replatforming tool
3. AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) AWS MGN service is an automated rehosting solution. It facilitates the migration of several physical, virtual, and cloud servers while mitigating compatibility issues, performance disruptions, and long cutover windows.
Key Features of AWS MGN Diverse Source Infrastructure Support: AWS MGN supports migrations from physical servers, Microsoft Hyper-V, VMware vSphere, and other cloud providers. Application Modernization: You can apply custom modernization actions or select built-in options like cross-region disaster recovery and license or operating system conversion to optimize your applications.Pros Cons Rehosts from physical, Hyper-V, vSphere and other clouds Lift-and-shift only, so it will not modernise architecture Free for 90 days per migrated server Replication agents must be installed on every source Built-in modernisation actions such as OS conversion Cutover still needs a planned maintenance window Minimises compatibility issues and long cutover windows AWS as a destination only
4. AWS Transfer Family AWS Transfer Family is a migration service that enables you to perform secure file transfers into and out of Amazon S3 or EFS. It supports data sharing over SFTP, FTPS, AS2, and FTP while maintaining existing client-side configurations for authentication, access, and firewalls.
Key Features of AWS Transfer Family Scalability: The platform adapts to your dynamic workloads by leveraging elastic compute infrastructure. Its built-in autoscaling capabilities help avoid low performance during peak workload periods. Multiple User Authentication Support: You can integrate AWS Transfer Family with existing systems like Microsoft Active Directory and LDAP for user authentication. Alternatively, you can manage user credentials directly within the service itself.Pros Cons Keeps existing client configurations working unchanged File transfer only, with no transformation Autoscaling handles peak transfer periods Endpoint hourly charges apply even when idle Integrates with Active Directory and LDAP No support for database or server workloads Lands files directly in S3 or EFS Protocol support does not extend to modern APIs
5. CloudEndure CloudEndure is an AWS-acquired company and one of the cloud data migration tools specifically optimized for AWS. It uses block-level replication to ensure minimal Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs) for all applications and databases without disrupting performance.
Key Features of CloudEndure Automated Orchestration: You can automatically launch fully functional workloads in your target AWS Region. This ensures minimal Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) with provisioned VMs and firewalls. Automated Machine Conversion: CloudEndure allows you to replicate Windows and Linux machines so that they boot natively in AWS by automatically handling OS and hypervisor configuration changes.Pros Cons Block-level replication with very low RPO Functionality now largely folded into AWS MGN Automated machine conversion for Windows and Linux New projects are generally steered towards MGN Launches fully functional workloads in the target region Agent installation required on every source machine Replication runs without disrupting source performance Rehosting only, with no modernisation
6. Corent SurPaaS MaaS Corent’s SurPaaS is a Migration-as-a-Service (MaaS) that helps you to rapidly analyze, optimize, and migrate software applications to the AWS Cloud. It scans your complete network and allows you to create a dependency graph using Move Group Analysis and the R-Lane framework.
Key Features of Corent SurPaaS MaaS Chief Information Officer (CIO) Dashboard: This feature provides a high-level overview of your organization’s IT infrastructure and is designed to cater to the requirements of C-level executives. Automated Assessments: You can automatically generate detailed reports on application readiness, migration strategy, cost optimisation and operational planning, so the business case is built on measured data rather than estimates.Pros Cons Scans the network and builds a dependency graph Niche vendor with a smaller community than AWS tools Executive dashboard for reporting migration progress Custom pricing that is not published Automated readiness and cost optimisation reports Replatforming results vary by application Covers assessment through to migration in one product Steeper onboarding than single-purpose tools
7. CloudFuze CloudFuze is a robust cloud-to-cloud migration platform. It enables you to securely transfer data between cloud storage services such as Dropbox Business, Amazon S3, Azure Blob, and Citrix ShareFile.
Key Features of CloudFuze Multi-Cloud Connectivity: CloudFuze offers over 40 connectors for migration and uses secure authentication protocols like OAuth 2.0. Data Governance and Compliance: The platform complies with security standards, including SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, and ISO 27001, maintaining strong data governance during migration.Pros Cons Over 40 connectors across major cloud storage providers Limited to file and mailbox data SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR and ISO 27001 compliance Pricing scales with users and data volume Preserves permissions and folder structure Large migrations need careful throttling OAuth 2.0 authentication throughout Not suitable for database or server workloads
8. AWS Application Discovery Service Application Discovery Service is one of the AWS services that supports the planning phase of AWS migration. You can collect detailed information about your on-premises servers and databases and use it to estimate the AWS resources you might require during migration.
Key Features of AWS Application Discovery Service Dependency Mapping: You can use this tool to monitor inbound and outbound network activity, identify server dependencies, and facilitate smoother migrations of interconnected systems. Enhanced Security: The service’s data store protects the collected data by encrypting it in transit and at rest, safeguarding sensitive information throughout the migration planning process.Pros Cons Maps server dependencies before anything moves Plans the migration, it does not perform one Free to use, with charges only for stored data Agent-based discovery needs deployment across servers Right-sizes AWS resources from measured usage Discovery periods of weeks are needed for accuracy Encrypts collected data in transit and at rest Limited visibility into application-level dependencies
9. Cloudsfer Cloudsfer is a cloud-to-cloud migration solution that helps you synchronize, back up, and migrate cloud storage data to your target destinations, such as Amazon S3. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to use, significantly minimizing the learning curve.
Key Features of Cloudsfer Multi-User Migration: This feature simplifies the process by enabling the migration of multiple users through a single interface while preserving permissions, security, and metadata. Detailed Migration Reports: The platform provides comprehensive reports on your cloud backup and migration activities by mapping all items from the source to their respective destinations.Pros Cons Migrates many users through one interface Cloud storage only, not servers or databases Preserves permissions, security and metadata Per-GB pricing gets costly on large datasets Detailed source-to-destination mapping reports Fewer connectors than larger competitors Short learning curve Large migrations can run slowly
10. Carbonite Migrate Carbonite Migrate is a cloud-based data migration solution that simplifies the movement of data and systems across physical, virtual, or cloud-based environments. It allows you to implement real-time data replication and offers near-zero downtime during migration.
Key Features of Carbonite Migrate Testing Capabilities: You can perform unlimited testing of the target environment without interrupting ongoing operations. Increased Flexibility: With Carbonite, you can avoid vendor lock-in with specific hypervisors, cloud providers, or hardware and maintain flexible IT investments.Pros Cons Real-time replication with near-zero downtime Licence cost per workload adds up on large estates Unlimited testing without interrupting production Requires agent installation on source systems Avoids lock-in to a specific hypervisor or cloud Less AWS-native than first-party services Moves across physical, virtual and cloud environments Adds another vendor relationship to manage
Why Migrate to AWS? AWS provides high availability and disaster recovery options, which helps minimize service interruptions and maintain business continuity. You can streamline your IT operations with AWS’s automated provisioning and management of resources. The platform has robust security features and ensures compliance with regulatory standards, protecting your data and organization from potential damage. AWS operates across numerous geographic regions and provides low-latency connections and availability zones to support global reach. Using AWS, you can scale resources up or down to accommodate your business demands, preparing your IT environment to handle any future requirements. With pay-as-you-go pricing, AWS enables you to avoid large upfront infrastructure investments and pay only for what you use. Challenges of AWS Migration While AWS migration provides significant benefits, there are common challenges that organizations may encounter:
Challenge Description Downtime Risk Improper planning can lead to service disruptions and data loss. Compatibility Issues Some applications may require re-platforming to work in AWS. Data Transfer Bottlenecks Large data volumes may result in slow migrations. Security and Compliance Ensuring compliance throughout migration requires careful planning. Skill Gaps Lack of in-house cloud expertise can slow down implementation. Cost Management Misconfigured services or extended timelines may inflate costs.
How to Choose Migration Tools for AWS Selecting the right AWS migration tools is crucial for a smooth transition. Here are some key factors to consider:
Factor Description Migration Scope Know whether you're migrating data, applications, VMs, or entire infrastructure. Compatibility Ensure the tool supports your existing setup and target AWS services. Automation Tools with automation reduce errors and migration times. Scalability Choose a tool that can scale with your data and workloads. Security Features Look for compliance certifications and encryption support. Cost Structure Compare plans and ensure the tool fits your budget. User Ratings G2 reviews can highlight reliability and usability.
Conclusion Migrating to AWS can significantly enhance your IT infrastructure by enhancing scalability, security, and performance.
When choosing between AWS migration tools, prioritise automation, security and predictable cost, and accept that you will probably need more than one. Map dependencies with Application Discovery Service before committing, use DMS or MGN for the bulk of the move, and keep a connector-based platform like Airbyte for the SaaS and API data that native services do not cover. If regulated records cannot leave your environment during the move, Enterprise Flex keeps the data plane inside your own account.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 1. What is the easiest AWS migration tool for beginners? AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) and AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) are user-friendly options with built-in automation, making them ideal for those new to cloud migration.
2. Can I migrate from other cloud providers to AWS using these tools? Yes. Tools like CloudEndure, Airbyte, and Carbonite Migrate support cross-cloud migrations from providers like Azure, Google Cloud, and others.
3. Are AWS migration tools free to use? Some tools offer free tiers (e.g., AWS DMS, AWS Application Discovery), while others use pay-as-you-go or custom pricing models. Always review the pricing structure before choosing.
4. What types of workloads can be migrated using these tools? Depending on the tool, you can migrate databases, applications, virtual machines, file systems, or entire infrastructures.
5. How do I ensure data security during migration? Choose tools that support encryption in transit and at rest, offer compliance certifications (like SOC 2 or ISO 27001), and integrate with IAM or LDAP for user authentication.
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